LA Times Crossword 1 May 23, Monday

Constructed by: Robin Stears
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme (according to Bill): Stranded at the Start

Themed answers each start out with a type of cord:

17A Street art involving knitted wool : YARN BOMBING
28A Internet troll who takes over a discussion : THREADJACKER
44A Concept in particle physics : STRING THEORY
58A Access points for some treehouses : ROPE LADDERS

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Want to discuss the puzzle? Then …
… leave a comment

Bill’s time: 5m 26s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

11 Leopard or lynx : CAT

Leopards are the smallest of the big cats, but still very powerful and agile hunters. They are known for their beautiful fur, which is covered in dark spots called rosettes. These spots help to camouflage them in their natural environment. Leopards are solitary animals and they only come together to mate. After a gestation period of about 3 months, a female leopard will give birth to 1-5 cubs. The cubs will stay with their mother for about 2 years before they are old enough to fend for themselves.

The lynx is a wild cat, of which there are four species. These are:

The Eurasian lynx: the biggest of the four species.
The Canada lynx: well-adapted to life in cold environments.
The Iberian lynx: a native of the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and the most endangered cat species in the world.
The bobcat: our North American wildcat, the smallest of the four lynxes

14 Actor Alda : ALAN

Even though actor Alan Alda is the son of fellow actor Robert Alda, both were born with the family name “D’Abruzzo”. Alan is a vocal advocate for science education. He is a founder of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where he became a visiting professor. He also hosted the TV show “Scientific American Frontiers” for 14 years.

15 Oklahoma athlete : SOONER

The University of Oklahoma was founded in 1890 in the city of Norman, as the Norman Territorial University. The school’s sports teams are called the “Sooners”, from the state of Oklahoma’s nickname.

The 1889 Indian Appropriations Act officially opened up the so-called Unassigned Lands, land in Oklahoma on which no Native American tribes had settled. Once the Act was signed, those lands became available for settlement. Those people who settled the same lands illegally, prior to the date specified, were termed “Sooners” as their situation was defined in the “sooner clause” of the Act. “Sooner State” is now a nickname for Oklahoma.

16 The Grand __ Opry : OLE

The Grand Ole Opry started out as a radio show in 1925 originally called the WSM “Barn Dance”. In 1927, the “Barn Dance” radio show was broadcast in a slot after an NBC production called “Musical Appreciation Hour”, a collection of classical works including Grand Opera. In a December show, the host of “Barn Dance” announced, “For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the ‘Grand Ole Opry'”. That name was used for the radio show from then on.

17 Street art involving knitted wool : YARN BOMBING

Yarn bombing, also known as yarnstorming and guerrilla knitting, is a type of street art that involves covering public surfaces with knitted or crocheted pieces. Exactly where yarn bombing originated is disputed, but the practice seems to have taken off in 2005 and examples are encountered all around the world.

19 Can. lawmakers : MPS

Member of Parliament (MP)

Parliament Hill is on the banks of the Ottawa River in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. The Parliament buildings were constructed in a Gothic Revival style, so there is a passing resemblance to the Houses of Parliament in London. There’s a Parliament Hill in London too, but it has no real connection to the Parliament buildings at the Palace of Westminster, which is miles away.

21 Famous __ cookies : AMOS

Wally Amos was a talent agent, one who was in the habit of taking home-baked cookies with him as an enticement to get celebrities to see him. He was urged by friends to open a cookie store (the cookies were that delicious, I guess) and this he did in Los Angeles in 1975 using the name “Famous Amos”. The store was a smash hit and he was able to build on the success by introducing his cookies into supermarkets. The brand was eventually purchased, making Wally a rich man, and Famous Amos cookies are still flying off the shelf. Wally Amos also became an energetic literacy advocate. He hosted 30 TV programs in 1987 entitled “Learn to Read” that provided reading instruction targeted at adults.

23 Bird that may wake up the farm every morning : ROOSTER

The term “rooster” dates back to the late 1700s, and is used to describe an adult male chicken, primarily here in the US. “Rooster” originated as an alternative to “cock”, as puritans objected to the association with the slang usage of the latter term.

28 Internet troll who takes over a discussion : THREADJACKER

Threadjacking is a tactic employed by Internet trolls. It involves participation in a thread and deliberately changing the subject of discussion. This differs from flaming, which usually involves personal attacks on participants in the discussion.

38 Fresh as a __ : DAISY

The flowers of the daisy plant close tightly at sunset and then open up again in the morning. It is this behavior that led to the name “daisy”, from the Old English for “day’s eye”. So, the daisy could be called a “well-rested” plant. And, someone who is well-rested attacks the day “fresh as a daisy”. Interesting, huh?

44 Concept in particle physics : STRING THEORY

There has always been a conflict between the theory of relativity and quantum theory. Basically, the theory of relativity works for “big stuff” but breaks down when applied to minute things like subatomic particles. On the other hand, quantum theory was developed to explain behavior at the subatomic level, and just doesn’t work on the larger scale. One of the reasons physicists are so excited about string theory is that it works at both the macro and micro levels. According to string theory, all particles in the universe are really little “strings”, as opposed to the points or ball-shaped entities assumed by the other theories.

52 Pottery wheel material : CLAY

Clay is made up of tiny particles of minerals that are held together by water. When clay is wet, it is very pliable due to an extremely thin film of water surrounding the mineral particles.When it is fired in a kiln, the water evaporates and the clay particles fuse together, creating a hard, durable material.

55 Panorama : VIEW

Panoramic paintings have existed for centuries, but the word “panorama” was coined around 1790 to describe an invention by the artist Robert Barker. He created an apparatus for exhibiting pictures on the inside of a cylindrical surface, allowing the viewer to stand in the middle with access to a 360-degree vista. The term comes from Greek “pan-” meaning “all” and “horama” meaning “sight, spectacle”.

56 401(k) kin : IRA

A 401(k) account resembles an IRA in that contributions can be made from a paycheck prior to the deduction of income taxes. A 401(k) differs from an IRA in that it is an employer-sponsored plan, with payments taken by the employer directly from an employee’s paycheck. Additionally, contributions can be fully or partially matched by an employer.

57 Chest bone : RIB

In the human rib cage, the top seven sets of bones are known as true ribs as they are attached directly to the sternum or breastbone. The five sets below the true ribs are called false ribs as they don’t have this direct connection. The bottom two of the false ribs are also called floating ribs as they don’t connect to the sternum at all.

Down

1 Big city bigwig : MAYOR

A bigwig is someone important. The use of the term “bigwig” harks back to the days when men of authority and rank wore … big wigs.

2 San Antonio landmark : ALAMO

The famous Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission was founded in 1718 and was the first mission established in the city. The Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, a thirteen-day siege by the Mexican Army led by President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Only two people defending the Alamo Mission survived the onslaught. One month later, the Texian army got its revenge by attacking and defeating the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto. During the surprise attack on Santa Anna’s camp, many of the Texian soldiers were heard to cry “Remember the Alamo!”.

3 Emmy-winning actress Martindale : MARGO

Margo Martindale is an American character actress who has had many, many prominent roles. Most notably perhaps, she plays Mag Bennett the TV show “Justified”. I recall excellent recurring performances in the shows “The Americans”, “The Good Wife” and “Sneaky Pete”.

4 __ Arbor, Michigan : ANN

Ann Arbor, Michigan was founded in 1824 by John Allen and Elisha Rumsey. Supposedly, Allen and Rumsey originally used the name “Annsarbour” in recognition of stands of bur oak that were on the land they had purchased and in recognition of their wives, both of whom were called “Ann” (i.e. Anns’ Arbor)

5 Chemically related compound : ISOMER

In the world of chemistry, isomers are two compounds with the same chemical formula (i.e. the same atomic constituents), but with a slightly different arrangement of the atoms relative to each other. The differing arrangement of atoms often leads to different chemical properties.

7 ZipRecruiter listings : JOBS

ZipRecruiter is a website matching potential employees with job openings. It was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.

9 Darth Vader’s grandson Kylo __ : REN

Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa in the “Star Wars” universe. The character’s birth name was Ben Solo. He was trained as a Jedi knight by his uncle, Luke Skywalker. However, Ben came to embrace the Dark Side, and changed his name to Kylo Ren. Ren is played by actor Adam Driver.

10 Rowing machine, familiarly : ERG

An indoor rowing machine is often referred to as an ergometer (or simply “erg”). However, the term “ergometer” really applies to a device that measures the amount of work performed.

22 IndyCar venues : RACEWAYS

IndyCar sanctions Indy car racing (i.e. American open-wheel car racing). The organization governs five racing series, most notably the IndyCar series that includes the Indianapolis 500.

25 “Beware the __ of March” : IDES

In Act I of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, a soothsayer warns the doomed leader to “beware the ides of March”. Caesar ignores the prophecy and is subsequently killed on the steps of the Capitol by a group of conspirators on that fateful day.

26 Member of the “Love Train” soul group : O’JAY

The O’Jays are an R&B group from Canton, Ohio. They came together in 1963 as a band of five singers and are still performing today, although now only as a trio. The band took the name of the O’Jays as a tribute to a radio disk jockey called Eddie O’Jay who was big in Cleveland at the time. The biggest hit for the O’Jays is “Love Train”, released in 1972.

29 Horse-and-buggy sect : AMISH

The Amish are members of a group of Christian churches, and a subgroup of the Mennonite churches. The Amish church originated in Switzerland and Alsace in 1693 when it was founded by Jakob Ammann. It was Ammann who gave the name to the Amish people. Many Amish people came to Pennsylvania in the 18th century.

30 Singer Kristofferson : KRIS

Singer Kris Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas and was the son of a USAF Major General. Indeed, Kristofferson’s paternal grandfather was also a military officer, but in the Swedish Army. Kristofferson himself went into the US Army and served in West Germany, achieving the rank of Captain.

35 “Virgin River” novelist Robyn : CARR

Robyn Carr is a prolific author of historical and contemporary romance novels. Her “Virgin River” novels were adapted into a TV series that started airing on Netflix in 2019.

38 Kennel barkers : DOGS

Our word “kennel” meaning “doghouse” comes from the Vulgar Latin word “canile” meaning the same thing. A sheep (“ovus”) was kept in an “ovile”, a horse (“equus”) in an “equile”, and a dog (“canis”) in a “canile”.

39 Some rentals, for short : APTS

Apartment (apt.)

42 Genetic material whose first letter stands for “ribo” : RNA

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a single-stranded molecule that is made up of nucleotides. The four nucleotides that make up RNA are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U). RNA is transcribed from DNA, which means that the information stored in DNA is used to create RNA. RNA then carries this information to the ribosomes, which are the cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis.

46 Name associated with the Great Chicago Fire : O’LEARY

The Great Chicago Fire blazed for almost three full days in October of 1871. By the time it was extinguished, hundreds of people had died and four square miles of the city had been destroyed. It is known that the fire started in or near a small barn owned by an Irish immigrant, Mrs. Catherine “Cate” O’Leary. A reporter called Michael Ahern wrote in the “Chicago Tribune” that the fire was ignited when a cow in the barn kicked over a lantern. Years later, Ahern admitted that he made up the story about the cow and the lantern, as he felt it made for colorful copy. Supposedly, Mrs. O’Leary died a heartbroken woman, as she spent the rest of her life with the public blaming her for the tragic loss of life and property.

49 Prolonged battle : SIEGE

Our word “siege” comes from a 13th-century word for a “seat”. The military usage derives from the concept of a besieging force “sitting down” outside a fortress until it falls.

50 Shortstop’s blunder : ERROR

That would be baseball.

53 __ of the valley : LILY

Also known as May bells and Our Lady’s tears, “lily of the valley” is the common name for a highly poisonous flowering plant that is found in woodlands across much of the world.

55 Pet docs : VETS

A veterinarian (vet) is a professional who treats animals for disease and injury. The word “veterinary” comes from the Latin “veterinae” meaning “working animals, beasts of burden”.

58 Supreme Court justice known as “Notorious,” initially : RBG

The 2015 book “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” was co-written by Shana Knizhnik and Iris Carmon. Knizhnik had previously authored a “Notorious R.B.G” blog. The moniker “Notorious RBG” is reminiscent of the name of rap star the Notorious B.I.G.

60 School support gp. : PTA

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

61 Actor Patel : DEV

Dev Patel is an actor from Harrow in England who is perhaps best known for playing the lead in the hit movie “Slumdog Millionaire”. He also stars in a lovely 2012 film called “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” alongside an incredible cast that included Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson. Patel also had a regular role in the marvelous HBO drama series called “The Newsroom”.

Read on, or …
… return to top of page

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Mother’s nickname : MAMA
5 Wound : INJURE
11 Leopard or lynx : CAT
14 Actor Alda : ALAN
15 Oklahoma athlete : SOONER
16 The Grand __ Opry : OLE
17 Street art involving knitted wool : YARN BOMBING
19 Can. lawmakers : MPS
20 “ru 4 real!?” : OMG!
21 Famous __ cookies : AMOS
22 Remainder : REST
23 Bird that may wake up the farm every morning : ROOSTER
25 Minnesota neighbor : IOWA
28 Internet troll who takes over a discussion : THREADJACKER
33 At the right moment : ON CUE
36 Insufficiently : MEAGERLY
37 Close by : NEAR
38 Fresh as a __ : DAISY
40 Smart-mouthed : WISE
41 Dangling pieces of jewelry : EARDROPS
43 Brewery shipments : CASES
44 Concept in particle physics : STRING THEORY
47 Young woman : LASS
48 Cleans one’s teeth, in a way : FLOSSES
52 Pottery wheel material : CLAY
55 Panorama : VIEW
56 401(k) kin : IRA
57 Chest bone : RIB
58 Access points for some treehouses : ROPE LADDERS
62 “It’s __ good” : ALL
63 Pancake mixture : BATTER
64 Self-images : EGOS
65 “Toodles!” : BYE!
66 Like a lawn : GRASSY
67 Extremely : VERY

Down

1 Big city bigwig : MAYOR
2 San Antonio landmark : ALAMO
3 Emmy-winning actress Martindale : MARGO
4 __ Arbor, Michigan : ANN
5 Chemically related compound : ISOMER
6 “That’ll do” : NO MORE
7 ZipRecruiter listings : JOBS
8 Bi- minus one : UNI-
9 Darth Vader’s grandson Kylo __ : REN
10 Rowing machine, familiarly : ERG
11 Beckoning word : COME
12 Swiss ski destination : ALPS
13 Exam : TEST
18 Wash : BATHE
22 IndyCar venues : RACEWAYS
24 In a way that’s meant to last : STURDILY
25 “Beware the __ of March” : IDES
26 Member of the “Love Train” soul group : O’JAY
27 Tail movement : WAG
29 Horse-and-buggy sect : AMISH
30 Singer Kristofferson : KRIS
31 “If all __ fails … ” : ELSE
32 Some deli loaves : RYES
33 Tip jar bills : ONES
34 Nicely organized : NEAT
35 “Virgin River” novelist Robyn : CARR
38 Kennel barkers : DOGS
39 Some rentals, for short : APTS
42 Genetic material whose first letter stands for “ribo” : RNA
43 Stadium throng : CROWD
45 Submits tax returns online : E-FILES
46 Name associated with the Great Chicago Fire : O’LEARY
49 Prolonged battle : SIEGE
50 Shortstop’s blunder : ERROR
51 Smart-mouthed : SASSY
52 Grumpy sort : CRAB
53 __ of the valley : LILY
54 Skilled : ABLE
55 Pet docs : VETS
58 Supreme Court justice known as “Notorious,” initially : RBG
59 Boat blade : OAR
60 School support gp. : PTA
61 Actor Patel : DEV

Leave a comment (below), or …
… return to top of page

The post LA Times Crossword 1 May 23, Monday appeared first on LAXCrossword.com.

from LAXCrossword.com https://ift.tt/Y0ay1pP